10 age group winners also take home turkey

Aside from top runners Victor Nash Santos and Dr. Lily Muldoon, 10 others went home with frozen turkeys 2023 after topping their respective age groups in last Thursday’s Mt. Tapochao Turkey Trot Run.

In the U12 age group, Quido Lucas Jambor topped the boys division with a time of 49:59.56, while Kaylen Taflinger was the first among the girls with a time of 58:23.78.

Jireh Wang was the first to the 1,555-foot summit in 41:36.88 in the boys U17, while multi-sport athlete Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez numero uno among the girls in 46:10.70.

In the 30-39, Chad Tafflinger tore the tape in 48:17.78 to spearhead his age group, while Shawna Brennfleck’s 52:18.98 was the fastest among the women.

James Abuy finished in 54:25.84 to win the men’s 50-59 division with Jessica Ortizo leading the women’s 50-59 division in 56:44.34.

In the over 60 age group, Jeff Race and Elizabeth Kohnen proved that age is just a number after they completed the 4.2-mile course in 54:31 and 1:03:21, respectively.

Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz Jr. congratulated all the winners and thanked all the participants, volunteers, and sponsors of the 2023 Turkey Trot.

“I believe this is over 40 years of Turkey trotting in the CNMI! Thank you to all the runners who accepted and conquered the challenge of doing the most lung busting race course in the Marianas! Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Congratulations to the winners…Thank you to our Northern Marianas Athletics officials and volunteers. Thank you to our Run Saipan officials and volunteers. Thank you especially to our police officers from CNMI Department of Public Safety. Without these outstanding men and woman in uniform our runners wouldn’t have been safe out on the highway today. We truly thankful for each one of you who helped made today a success,” he said.

The 2023 Turkey Trot was sponsored by Joeten Enterprises, IT&E CNMI, Triple J Group of Companies, Current CNMI/MARPAC, and Saipan Vegas Resort.